Know Thy Boss And Get That Promotion

Call it a case of doughnut diplomacy. Career strategist Cynthia Shapiro had a client whose boss was perpetually annoyed by employees who straggled into meetings late. Here's a novel solution: Ten minutes before the next meeting began, Shapiro's client set a box of doughnuts on the conference room table and then sent a quick e-mail blast to her co-workers, informing them of the tasty treat.

While her colleagues were feasting on powdereds and jellys, the employee quietly went to her boss's office. "When she told her boss everyone was ready for her, the look on her face was amazing. Their entire relationship changed," says Shapiro, author of Corporate Confidential: 50 Secrets Your Company Doesn't Want You to Know--And What To Do About Them.

For Shapiro, this was Boss Management 101: Make her feel supported and the perks--plum assignments, windowed offices, flexible schedules--will come.

In order to attain Most Favored Employee status, you first have to understand your boss' style. Does she prefer to be contacted by e-mail or is she a fan of the face-to-face? Does she like information presented with hard numbers, or does she prefer a more conceptual approach?

"We try to do the golden rule and treat people the way that we want to be treated, but that can get us into trouble," says Pat Heim, a management consultant and author of Hardball for Women: Winning at the Game of Business. "You need to be very clear about how your boss is different from you, and keep that in the forefront of your mind."

Heim recalls the former boss who asked her to redesign their department: "I did everything so that it would flow logically, but she said 'No, no, no. This would upset Norma.' So I realized I had to throw out the logic and start thinking about who is going to be upset."

To better know your boss, try to book a 10-minute check-in meeting with her once a week. "This is probably the most essential tool that anyone can have in terms of handling their boss," says Katherine Crowley, co-author of Working For You Isn't Working For Me: The Ultimate Guide to Managing Your Boss. "Very often bosses think that they are talking to you all day or all week, but that's not the same as sitting down and finding out what the priorities are today, what needs to be accomplished and where will they be physically."

Solve Her Problems

Of course, if your boss doesn't see any value from these weekly sit-downs, she'll quickly grow impatient with them. That's why you should not only know your boss's priorities--you should immediately make them your own. "Ignore your priorities and focus on what is important to her," says Shapiro.

While of course you'll want to find out about big-picture issues like new product lines or sales strategies, also be alert to problems that might seem minor to others but are very important to her. Shapiro recalls a client whose boss used to rage when he didn't get his
FedEx
deliveries as soon as they reached the building. Then the employee started waiting for the FedEx truck at the receptionist's desk at delivery time and bringing the parcel to the boss with a note attached.

At first, the boss never even mentioned it, let alone give a thank you. "But two months later, after the boss singled him out for praise in front of the entire department, the employee was promoted," says Shapiro. "He did not have the seniority or the experience that other people in his office had. But he made his boss feel totally supported and got rid of the thing that made him crazy," said Shapiro.

Make It All About Her

After about three months of fueling your boss's pet projects and eviscerating her pet peeves, you should see a change in your relationship. She might start bringing you into her confidence or trusting you with the higher-profile assignments. Now you can start asking for what you want, like a more flexible schedule or the chance to ditch a tedious and time-consuming part of your job.

But you have to frame this as a move that is good for her, rather than simply your due. "A big mistake employees make is asking for something because they deserve it--maybe they worked so hard or because Brad in accounting got the same thing. That's never a good idea," says Shapiro.

You also shouldn't personalize the problem. If you want to work from home one day a week, don't say you need to be there to pick up your kids. Tell her how wildly efficient you'll be in your quiet home office as you devote your unfettered attention to the work she cares about most.

If, after six months, you haven't seen a change in your boss's attitude, Shapiro says you might want to refresh your résumé. But especially in these economically troubled times, she also urges patience. "Bosses have a ton of pressure on them, and employees often forget that. If you can turn that around, that will be the best job security you can get."